System and method for conveying sheet-like objects

ABSTRACT

A system for conveying sheet-like objects, in particular banknotes, comprises a cash dispensing unit, a number of cash dispensing stations and a control unit. A conveying channel having an inlet side and an outlet side is disposed between the cash dispensing unit and each cash dispensing station, with elements for generating an air flow being present in each conveying channel. An enveloping device for enveloping the objects to be conveyed is disposed between the cash dispensing unit and the conveying channel(s). The cash dispensing unit delivers banknotes requested by a cash dispensing station to the enveloping device under the control of the control unit, which enveloping device envelopes the banknotes by a cash dispensing station and delivers the envelope to a unit for delivering the envelope containing banknotes to a conveying channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national state filing of and claims priority fromInternational Application No. PCT/NL00/00008 filed on Jan. 5, 2000 for“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVEYING SHEET-LIKE OBJECTS”, which waspublished in English.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for conveying sheet-like objects byair through a channel and a method for the same.

Systems and methods of this kind are known in several embodiments, seefor example EP-A-0 690 423. In the prior art conveying systems, whichare usually referred to as pneumatic conveyor systems, the sheet-likeobjects to be conveyed are put into a so-called cartridge, in which theyare transported through the conveying channel. Although the objects canthus be transported in a reliable manner by the conveying system, theuse of cartridges has several drawbacks. In the case of automatedsystems, for example, relatively complex installations are needed forputting the sheet-like objects into a cartridge. Furthermore the speedat which a cartridge moves through the conveying channel is relativelylow. In addition, return transport is necessary at all times in order toreturn the cartridges to the starting point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a system and method of thekind referred to in the introduction, wherein the use of cartridges canbe avoided.

Thus a system and a method are obtained wherein the objects no longerneed to be put into a cartridge and the enveloped objects are directlydelivered to the conveying channel, floating freely, as it were, throughthe conveying channel towards the outlet side. This makes the system asdisclosed herein very user-friendly. Return transport of emptycartridges is not necessary. The velocity at which the envelopes aretransported is very high, so that the system has a high capacity. Thetransport of cash within a bank building can be automated practicallycompletely, with the additional advantage that no cash needs to bepresent at the cash dispensing stations. This provides a considerableimprovement with regards to security. It is noted that the term “cashdispensing stations” is understood to include a cashier/teller stationat the counter as well as an automatic cash dispensing machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to thedrawing, which includes:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for conveying banknotes;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate variousembodiments of conveyance channels in a top plan view of the inner wall,in a longitudinal sectional view and in a cross-sectional view; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments ofthe conveyance channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The system as shown comprises dispensing unit 1 or cash dispenser, anumber of cash dispensing stations 2, 3 and a control unit 4. The cashdispensing stations 2 are cashier/teller stations at a counter in a bankbuilding, while the cash dispensing stations 3 are automatic cashdispensing machines. A conveying channel 5 indicated by a line isdisposed between each cash dispensing station 2, 3 and the cashdispensing unit 1, which channel functions to transport banknotes (notshown) from the cash dispensing unit 1 to a cash dispensing station 2which has sent a request for cash to unit 1.

Disposed between the cash dispensing unit 1 and the inlet side of theconveying channels are an enveloping device 6 and a selecting unit 7.

When a cash dispensing station 2, 3 makes a request for an amount inbanknotes in the system disclosed herein, the control unit 4 signalsthis to the cash dispensing unit 1, which delivers the requested amountin the requested form to the enveloping device 6. The enveloping device6 envelopes the banknotes and subsequently delivers the envelopes to theselecting unit 7. The selecting unit 7 is so controlled by the controlunit 4 such that the envelope containing the banknotes is delivered tothe conveying channel 5, which is connected to the cash dispensingstation 2, 3. Connected to conveying channels 5 is a pump 8(schematically indicated), which generates an air flow in the conveyingchannel 5, so that the envelope is transported, floating or slidingfreely in the channel, to the cash dispensing station 2,3 that hasissued the request. The envelope is delivered at the cash dispensingstation in question, where the envelope can be removed automatically, ifdesired.

It is noted that the envelope enables the user of the system to supplythe customer with current general information, personal information orcommercial information and the like.

The conveying channels 5 can be arranged in various ways. Possibleembodiments of the conveying channels are disclosed in the applicant'sDutch patent application No. 1010748, which is considered to beincorporated herein by reference. The use of such channels is conduciveto the freely floating or sliding movement of the envelopes containingbanknotes.

According to an advantageous embodiment, in order to improve thetransport of the envelopes through the conveying channels 5, theenveloping device 6 may be so arranged that the envelopes, which aregenerally substantially rectangular, comprise a folded-back portion at ashort end edge on at least one side. Said folded-back portion forms asemi-arrow with a principal plane of the envelope, as it were, which isconducive to the transport under the influence of the air flow. It isalso possible to form the envelope with a folded-back portion on bothsides, so that the envelope is in the form of an arrow, seen in sideelevation. The transport of the envelope can take place with the arrowpointing forwards or backwards.

Furthermore it is possible to construct the enveloping device 6 so thata longitudinal strip is formed on one long side or one both long sidesof the rectangular envelope, which strip projects with respect to thebanknotes. Such a longitudinal strip enlarges the surface area of theenvelope.

The method disclosed herein for conveying sheet-like objects by means ofthe system disclosed herein has the advantage that there is no need touse cartridges. This enables the use of relatively simple apparatus andeliminates the need to return empty cartridges. The transport of thebanknotes through the conveying channels 5 can take place at a highervelocity than in a system which employs cartridges.

The control unit 4 may include detectors 9, 10 (schematicallyindicated), which monitor the in-feed and the delivery at, respectively,the inlet side and the outlet side of each conveying channel 5. Thisenables immediate detection of possible fraud, and also of anymalfunctions.

FIGS. 2A-2C show the conveyance channel 5 in a top plan view of an innerwall, in a longitudinal sectional view and in a cross-sectional view. Asappears from FIG. 2C, the conveyance channel 5 is of substantiallyrectangular cross-section, wherein the opposed inner walls 11 having thelarger dimension are provided with means which influence the air flowgenerated in conveyance channel 1 in such a manner near the inner wallsthat an air flow directed away from the inner wall 11 in question isgenerated near each of said inner walls 11. In the embodiment accordingto FIGS. 2A-2C, said means are in the form of elements 12 projectingfrom inner wall 11, which elements 12 are slightly spherical in thisembodiment. Said spherical elements 12 disturb the air flow along innerwalls 11, so that swirls are produced at the location of the elements12, which result in an air flow near the inner walls 11 which is ineffect directed away from the respective inner wall 11. As a result, theenvelope cannot stick to inner wall 11.

In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, elements 12 are arranged in such apattern that the elements 12 are mutually staggered in successive rowsin the longitudinal direction of the conveyance channel 5. In thisembodiment, the spacing between elements 12 in longitudinal directionmore or less equals the diameter of an element 12 in the plane of innerwall 11. The spacing between elements 12 in transverse direction is suchthat the elements 12 of the successive rows are partially in line, sothat each line extending in longitudinal direction intersects an element12 of each row.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2C, the elements 12 furthermore projectfrom the associated inner wall 11 to a height of about 2 mm. The heightof the channel 5 is about 30 mm in this embodiment. Other heights ofprojection of the elements 12 from inner wall 11 are also possible. Saidheight may for example vary from 2-10% of the height of the conveyancechannel 5. The width of conveyance channel 5 is preferably greater thanthe greatest width of the sheet-like objects to be conveyed.

As is shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, it is possible to use elements 12 having asmaller diameter, and the elements may be arranged with a smallerspacing between them, independently of their diameter, while also thetwo other opposed inner walls 13 may be formed with the same elements 12or with differently formed elements 12. As is shown in FIGS. 4A-4C,elements 12 may also have different shapes. According to FIGS. 4A-4C,the elements 12 are slightly elliptical, seen in top plan view.

Although elements 12 of the above-described variants of the conveyancechannel 5 have a uniformly increasing or decreasing height, seen in thelongitudinal direction of the channel 5, the elements 12 may also bedesigned to exhibit steeper inclinations on their upstream or theirdownstream side, if desired.

FIG. 5A is another cross-sectional view of an embodiment, whereintransitions 14 between side walls 11 and 13 are non-square transitions.In the illustrated embodiment, said transitions 14 are in the form of aradius, such that the short side walls are substantially semicircular,seen in sectional view. It is also possible, however, to use othernon-square transitions, for example straight transitions which includean angle of for example 45° with both inner walls, as is illustrated inFIG. 5B.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments,which can be varied in several ways without departing from the scope ofthe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for conveying banknotes in an envelopecomprising: a cash dispensing unit; at least one cash dispensingstation; a selecting unit; a control unit; at least one conveyingchannel having an inlet side and an outlet side being disposed betweensaid cash dispensing unit and the at least one cash dispensing station,wherein each of the at least one conveying channel has its outlet sideat an associated cash dispensing station; a pump fluidly coupled to eachof the at least one conveying channel and adapted to generate air flowin the at least one conveying channel; and an enveloping device adaptedto envelope the banknotes to be conveyed, the enveloping device disposedbetween the cash dispensing unit and the at least one conveying channel,wherein the cash dispensing unit is adapted to deliver banknotesrequested by the at least one cash dispensing station to the envelopingdevice under the control of said control unit, wherein the envelopingdevice is adapted to envelop banknotes requested by the requesting cashdispensing station and then deliver the requested enveloped banknotes tothe selecting unit, and wherein the selecting unit is disposed betweenthe enveloping device and the inlet side of the at least one conveyingchannel and adapted to deliver the requested enveloped banknotes to theone of the at least one conveying channel connected to the requestingcash dispensing station.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein theselecting unit is adapted to deliver the enveloped banknotes to theconveying channel associated with the requesting cash dispensingstation.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least onedispensing station comprises an automatic cash dispensing machine. 4.The system according to claim 1, wherein the enveloping device isadapted to form a folded-back portion at one end of the envelope beingformed.
 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the envelopingdevice is adapted to form a folded-back portion on two sides of theenvelope being formed.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein theat least one conveying channel has a substantially rectangularcross-section, wherein the opposing inner walls having the largerdimension comprise a plurality of projections which influence air flowgenerated in the conveying channel near inner walls in such a mannerthat an air flow away from the inner wall in question is produced neareach of said inner walls.
 7. A method for conveying banknotes, themethod comprising the steps of requesting banknotes from a requestingcash dispensing unit by at least one cash dispensing station, conveyingthe requested banknotes from the cash dispensing unit to an envelopingdevice, enveloping the requested banknotes in the enveloping device, anenvelope formed for each request of banknotes, conveying the requestedenveloped banknotes from the enveloping device to a selecting unit,conveying the requested enveloped banknotes from the selecting unit toan inlet end of a conveying channel, and conveying the envelopedbanknotes through the conveying channel to the requesting cashdispensing station by means of an air flow.
 8. The method according toclaim 7, wherein the step of enveloping further comprises folding afolded-back portion at one end of the envelope being formed, at least onone side thereof.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the stepof enveloping further comprises applying a longitudinal strip on theenvelope being formed.
 10. The method of conveying banknotes of claim 7,wherein conveying the requested enveloped banknotes from the selectingunit further comprises selecting an inlet end of the conveying channelassociated with the requesting cash dispensing station.